Serving more people in the community

Housing is critical to a person’s health and well-being. DHS believes that too many Pennsylvanians who have extremely low incomes are rent-burdened, too many people experience homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, and too many people who live in institutions could live in the community with assistance.

The housing program will approach housing challenges in Pennsylvania by:

Removing barriers unique to each person

Connecting people with housing opportunities

Expanding affordable housing in PA

Partnering with local agencies

Utilizing data to measure progress

Pooling resources and sharing ideas

Five-year housing strategy

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Housing Strategy is a five-year comprehensive plan to connect Pennsylvanians to affordable, integrated, accessible, and supportive housing.

The strategy was first launched in 2016 in partnership with the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, as well as other local, state, and federal agencies. A year after the successful launch, DHS received feedback from stakeholders and updated the strategy to clarify goals and reorganize information.

Housing resources

Pennsylvania has a variety of housing programs and services that can help older adults and people with disabilities, individuals, and families with low incomes, or those who are at-risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Housing Stakeholder Workgroup

The Housing Stakeholder Workgroup was established by DHS to collect stakeholder input on issues of Housing policy development and program administration within the context of the implementing the Housing Strategy.